The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of proteins extracted from Acacia farnesiana seeds

ABSTRACT Seeds of Acacia farnesiana are commonly sold in the local markets of northeastern Brazil as a therapeutic agent. The present work aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of proteins obtained from A. farnesiana seeds. Five different protein fractions (albumin, globulin, prolamin, acidic and basic glutelins) were obtained and investigated for the protein pattern, the presence of hemagglutinating and proteolytic activities. The globulin fraction (GLB) was also evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Globulins reduced the paw edema induced by carrageenan in a dose-dependent manner, which was accompanied by a reduction of myeloperoxidase activity (p < 0.05). Additionally, GLB reduced the neutrophil peritoneal migration induced by carrageenan. However, GLB was not able to inhibit the edema triggered by dextran. Pre-treatment with globulins reduced the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid as well as the paw licking time induced by formalin (69.1% at first phase). However, it did not produce a significant antinociceptive effect in the hot plate test (55-56 °C). Treating the GLB with heat (at 100 °C for 30 min) abolished its anti-edematogenic and hemagglutinating activities. Our results showed that seeds from A. farnesiana are a source of proteins with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties

CO2 + ionic liquid biphasic system for reaction/product separation in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates

The possibility of using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) technology as a second step for extracting propylene carbonate produced from the coupling reaction between propylene oxide and CO2, was investigated. The coupling reaction was performed under biphasic gas-liquid conditions, using a zinc(II) complex of arylhydrazones of β-diketones (Zn(II)-AHBD) as metal catalyst, combined with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr). 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ([EMIM][EtSO4]) and methyltrioctylammonium chloride ([ALIQUAT][Cl]) were explored as reaction solvents, in order to efficiently solubilize the catalyst and retain the catalyst inside the reactor during the product extraction step. Results obtained were compared with other common used solvents as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), ethyl lactate (EL), and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400). [ALIQUAT][Cl] was selected as the most promising solvent and scCO2 extraction was effectively applied as a second step to isolate propylene carbonate from the catalyst system. Following this strategy, the catalyst system was reused three times, without loss of activity. © 201

CO2 + ionic liquid biphasic system for reaction/product separation in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates

The possibility of using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) technology as a second step for extracting propylene carbonate produced from the coupling reaction between propylene oxide and CO2, was investigated. The coupling reaction was performed under biphasic gas-liquid conditions, using a zinc(II) complex of arylhydrazones of β-diketones (Zn(II)-AHBD) as metal catalyst, combined with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr). 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ([EMIM][EtSO4]) and methyltrioctylammonium chloride ([ALIQUAT][Cl]) were explored as reaction solvents, in order to efficiently solubilize the catalyst and retain the catalyst inside the reactor during the product extraction step. Results obtained were compared with other common used solvents as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), ethyl lactate (EL), and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400). [ALIQUAT][Cl] was selected as the most promising solvent and scCO2 extraction was effectively applied as a second step to isolate propylene carbonate from the catalyst system. Following this strategy, the catalyst system was reused three times, without loss of activity. © 201